PWSA (USA) Approves Grant
We are pleased to announce that PWSA (USA) has approved the funding of an important grant: The Effect Of Growth Hormone Substitution On Sleep Disordered Breathing In Young Children With Prader-Willi Syndrome. The researchers have committed that the results will be in a report that could be helpful with physicians and private/ public insurance companies....
Please Participate in Research on PWS Caregiver Stress
I would like to invite you to participate in a research study on the ‘Relationship between caring for individuals diagnosed with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) and caregiver stress’. The results will provide vital information to caregivers, service providers, and policy makers on strategies and supports needed in the care of individuals with PWS. The survey will...
Exciting News on Carbetocin for PWS!
Sara Cotter, mom to a child with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS), has formed a company dedicated to advancing treatments for PWS and related disorders. The company is called Levo Therapeutics (www.levotheraputics.com). Sara has years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, most recently as an analyst with UBS. She recently left her job to pursue the leadership...
Two New Research Studies
If you live in the Indianapolis area and have a child with PWS between the ages of 3 and 11 years old, you may be eligible for one of these very interesting studies on remote education for PWS. Please read the two attached documents. The PRETEND (Parent-focused Remote Education to Enhance Development) – Research...

Perry A. Zirkel has written more than 1,500 publications on various aspects of school law, with an emphasis on legal issues in special education. He writes a regular column for NAESP’s Principal magazine and NASP’s Communiqué newsletter, and he did so previously for Phi Delta Kappan and Teaching Exceptional Children.
Jennifer Bolander has been serving as a Special Education Specialist for PWSA (USA) since October of 2015. She is a graduate of John Carroll University and lives in Ohio with her husband Brad and daughters Kate (17), and Sophia (13) who was born with PWS.
Dr. Amy McTighe is the PWS Program Manager and Inpatient Teacher at the Center for Prader-Willi Syndrome at the Children’s Institute of Pittsburgh. She graduated from Duquesne University receiving her Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Education with a focus on elementary education, special education, and language arts.
Evan has worked with the Prader-Willi Syndrome Association (USA) since 2007 primarily as a Crisis Intervention and Family Support Counselor. Evans works with parents and schools to foster strong collaborative relationships and appropriate educational environments for students with PWS.
Staci Zimmerman works for Prader-Willi Syndrome Association of Colorado as an Individualized Education Program (IEP) consultant. Staci collaborates with the PWS multi-disciplinary clinic at the Children’s Hospital in Denver supporting families and school districts around the United States with their child’s Individual Educational Plan.
Founded in 2001, SDLC is a non-profit legal services organization dedicated to protecting and advancing the legal rights of people with disabilities throughout the South. It partners with the Southern Poverty Law Center, Protection and Advocacy (P&A) programs, Legal Services Corporations (LSC) and disability organizations on major, systemic disability rights issues involving the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and the federal Medicaid Act. Recently in November 2014, Jim retired.